Holidays 2024

[Sparky]

For us, the fun of getting there is the major component of a holiday.  We really don't like any kind of schedule.  At some point, we'd be the ones sprinting toward the ship in a viral video.

[C8RKH]

11 minutes ago, Spinney said:

Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it. I used to think the same but here we are a mere 24 cruises later. 😁

@Spinney, my problem, as you may have deduced from many of my posts, is that actually, I don't like "people" that much.

So the idea of being stuck on a boat, for a week or longer, with "people" just makes me want to shiver. I doubt I would genuinely last a week without throwing one, possibly two, of the other passengers overboard, or, without one, possibly two (or three) of the other passengers throwing me, overboard.

Everything I have seen about cruise holidays just puts me off. I do realise that this is an intense and personal perspective, and if it works for you, then I am honestly delighted for you.

But "my" view of the average cruise goer is an over-dressed, fake tanned, over teeth whitened, road kill mutton dressed as lamb, wannabe snob! Hyacinth, comes to mind!

No personal offence meant or aimed at you, or anyone else who "cruises". As I have stated it is my personal view, not necessarily grounded in fact, quite possibly all fiction, as I have never "done" a cruise. 🤣

[Spinney]

55 minutes ago, C8RKH said:

@Spinney, my problem, as you may have deduced from many of my posts, is that actually, I don't like "people" that much.

So the idea of being stuck on a boat, for a week or longer, with "people" just makes me want to shiver. I doubt I would genuinely last a week without throwing one, possibly two, of the other passengers overboard, or, without one, possibly two (or three) of the other passengers throwing me, overboard.

Everything I have seen about cruise holidays just puts me off. I do realise that this is an intense and personal perspective, and if it works for you, then I am honestly delighted for you.

But "my" view of the average cruise goer is an over-dressed, fake tanned, over teeth whitened, road kill mutton dressed as lamb, wannabe snob! Hyacinth, comes to mind!

No personal offence meant or aimed at you, or anyone else who "cruises". As I have stated it is my personal view, not necessarily grounded in fact, quite possibly all fiction, as I have never "done" a cruise. 🤣

It honestly matters not one iota to me what your views are regarding me, cruising or those who do cruise. Certainly no offence taken and we’re all entitled to our opinion, no matter how wrong it is!😁

As for me fitting your stereotype:-

Over dressed? Nope, never been known.

Fake tan? Mine’s all real

Over teeth whitened? Wouldn’t dream of such a pointless practice.

Road kill mutton dressed as lamb? I think Mrs S should answer that one - before landing a right hander.

Wannabe snob? No wannabe about it, I am a snob!

Hyacinth? See the answer before last!😂

To be fair, you could possibly have levelled all those accusations, apart from teeth whitening maybe, at the typical cruiser of the 70’s and 80’s and those descriptions probably fitted my own parents, who loved cruising in that period. 

Todays average cruiser, however, is a completely different and, dare I say, more sophisticated animal, nothing like your stereotypes. 

The odd thing about being around ‘people’ in the context of a cruise ship is that you can interact with them as much or as little as you’d like. You can be the life and soul of a party chatting to anybody who will listen or you can be a curmudgeonly miserable old git sitting on your own all the time and the truth of it is - nobody else on board would give a stuff. 

Like I said earlier, I once held similar views, probably based upon my parents but trust me, things have moved on considerably and now bear no resemblance to those days. 

As you’ve said, “quite possibly all fiction, as I have never “done” a cruise.” 

Yes it is, but no need to let mere facts get in the way!😁🚢🥂

[C8RKH]

8 minutes ago, Spinney said:

Certainly no offence taken

Glad to hear, as my "view" was, as I said, prejudiced, and as you worked out, was not 100% serious, more like a Benny Hill sketch from the 70's/80's.

No surprise that yes, as a kid in the 70's, I did watch "Love Boat" lol... Who'd have guessed.

I'm really pleased you like cruising, and I'll leave it there, as I still just don't fancy it

 

[Spinney]

Your loss! 😉😆

[C8RKH]

2 minutes ago, Spinney said:

Your loss! 😉😆

You can't lose what you've never had.

[Kimbers]

2 hours ago, C8RKH said:

I shiver with horror at the thought of a "cruise" holiday, but will be very interested in your experiences @williamtherebel on this one.

 

With you on this one. The thought of being in one place with 1000-3000 other people where I can't be people free for at least half a mile fills me with dread.

2 hours ago, Sparky said:

For us, the fun of getting there is the major component of a holiday.  We really don't like any kind of schedule.  At some point, we'd be the ones sprinting toward the ship in a viral video.

I'm with you on this Sparkles.

Wendy has a schedule to get there and back, everything else is totally off the cuff. Wake up and "Lets go for a drive and see where we end up" could be one result, Get up "Lets swim and stay in the villa", is another. "Lets take a speedboat and find a deserted bay to swim" is another. Unlike the cruise, the one thing everything includes is there not being people anywhere we want to go.

[C8RKH]

27 minutes ago, Kimbers said:

Get up "Lets swim and stay in the villa", is another. "Lets take a speedboat and find a deserted bay to swim" is another. Unlike the cruise, the one thing everything includes is there not being people anywhere we want to go.

One of the things I like to do, when I go on the annual SELOC IoM trip, is to take myself off to Peel for a swim in what is usually an easily accessible, but deserted, cove. It may not be the med, or the Caribbean, but when the sun is shining, it is usually people free heaven. Pure bliss.

Not sure I'll be making it this year, as taking my mum and family there for her 80th. It's where we come from, way back when - one half the family from the IoM, the other the Isle of Arran. Guess I was always destined to be an islander which would be great, if no other fooker was there! 🤣

[williamtherebel]

WOW!! Love all the comments -- for and against. I must admit to being in the same camp as @C8RKH. My parents loved going on cruises but I just couldn't see the appeal. My mum and dad had photos dressed to the nines in evening suits attending the 'captains table'. I just couldnt see me in the same situation. However, theres no other way of doing this so Im going with an open mind so well see. No doubt I'll report back here in due course. @Spinney We are travelling with Paramount cruises who seem to specialise in these types of holidays. I would appreciate any pointers - do's and donts. Many thanks.

[Sparky]

Looking forward to trip reports...

[drdoom]

We've taken but a couple of cruises, enough to grasp what works and what doesn't. The plus side is that you're operating out of what effectively amounts to a mobile hotel, respite from the crowd always just a stroll from where the mood catches you, personal effects stay put and service is typically pleasant throughout. We don't find the onboard entertainments and activities overly amusing for the most part so extended crossings are not on. What we will consider are cruises with a busy itinerary at interesting ports of call, like that which we enjoyed in the Eastern Mediterranean some years ago.

Cheers

[Bibs]

With just under 8,000 people on board, I'd rather visit Pontins...

[C8RKH]

That looks "tackier" than Blackpool. All you need is a "kiss me quick hat" and a corner for your your casual vomit of beer and kebab - well I suppose you could just use your hat. Frightening.

[Barrykearley]

Do they do 30-50 cruises ? Asking for a friend 

[ChrisJ]

3 hours ago, Bibs said:

I'd rather visit Pontins

You'd better hurry, another one closed down yesterday, only 3 left now.

[Spinney]

3 hours ago, Bibs said:

With just under 8,000 people on board, I'd rather visit Pontins...

I agree with you as it happens. There are ships to suit all tastes and that one clearly is more suited to the ‘hard of thinking’ ASDA types. We tend to go for the smaller ships, mainly around 800 passengers but occasionally up to 1800, depending upon the itinerary. One rule we always abide by is if the ship has large water slides, kids clubs and garish colours, avoid it like the plague. 

To answer @williamtherebel, although we have used many different cruise lines, I don’t know Paramount Cruises I’m afraid. They appear to be a travel company that uses a range of cruise lines, so difficult to comment further without knowing the ship they will use for a particular cruise.

Forget the ‘dressed to the nines in evening suits attending the Captains table’. That really doesn’t happen any longer and although one or two cruise lines still have a formal night or two during a cruise, it is rare and way more casual/relaxed on the majority of ships. 

As @drdoom said, if you treat it as a moving hotel where you can unpack at the start, it is a great way of seeing a lot of destinations in a relatively short period, with minimum hassle. Most of the travelling is done at night whilst you’re asleep, allowing you to wake up in a new port. 

I appreciate it isn’t for everybody but I’m done with action and adventure holidays now. These days I prefer a more gentle approach where I can visit interesting places, enjoy local dishes and culture, experience some great food and wines on board, relax and have conversations with people who’ve had an interesting life. 

We have seen pretty much most of the world by cruise ship over the last 10 years Personally, I’m done with the hassle of flying and airports so for me, a comfortable ship really is the only way to do it now. 

[Kimbers]

15 hours ago, Spinney said:

As @drdoom said, if you treat it as a moving hotel where you can unpack at the start, it is a great way of seeing a lot of destinations in a relatively short period, with minimum hassle. Most of the travelling is done at night whilst you’re asleep, allowing you to wake up in a new port. 

You see, I don't do Hotels either! There are people there and don't get me started on the pools "You can't go in now we are playing volleyball", "Its water aerobics for the next half hour", "No we can't turn the loud music down, you are on holiday! Enjoy it!"........ Frankly the thought of a cruise makes me cold. So much so that Wendy wants to do one and I told her she's doing it on her own. 

And the whole travelling to a new place is nuts! Being on someone elses time frame "You have to get off now and back on at this time" and also turning up in a place you really love and wanting to explore it more but you can't. then there's the "Organised trips". Yeah, don't do those either.

I sound like an old grump but both of my jobs are customer facing and when I go on holiday I want to do what I want to do, when I want to do it and how I want to do it. And If I want to sit next to a pool with no-one in it then I can

Everyone to their own. 

[Spinney]

1 hour ago, Kimbers said:

You see, I don't do Hotels either! There are people there and don't get me started on the pools "You can't go in now we are playing volleyball", "Its water aerobics for the next half hour", "No we can't turn the loud music down, you are on holiday! Enjoy it!"........ Frankly the thought of a cruise makes me cold. So much so that Wendy wants to do one and I told her she's doing it on her own. 

 

Everyone to their own indeed but it does amuse me just how wrong you are with your views of life on a cruise ship. I think you must have watched ‘Carry on Cruising’ many years ago and assume it is still very much like that. It really isn’t!

Like all holiday destinations, there are a whole range of ships catering for a very wide range of tastes, from the banal to the sophisticated and everywhere in between. Pick the right one and, shock, horror, it is actually possible to enjoy yourself!😉😁

[Kimbers]

13 minutes ago, Spinney said:

Like all holiday destinations, there are a whole range of ships catering for a very wide range of tastes, from the banal to the sophisticated and everywhere in between. Pick the right one and, shock, horror, it is actually possible to enjoy yourself!😉😁

Highly unlikely, I am pretty set in my ways

My kind of holiday isn't for many either. I know some of my friends would get mighty bored sitting in the sun next to a pool, with no one else within half a mile, reading a book, day after day. 

If there Is a cruise that I have a pool to myself, can eat when I want, stop the ship at places I want to go to and for however long I want to stay, not see a single person despite walking around for days on end then I'm in!

[drdoom]

Well I'm pining for a Lotus road trip in the company of my Esprit owning best mate. Been some years since equipped for that . . . . will be a big push forward on 2 cars in '24.

[Dan E]

Currently booked, in March going to Honfleur in Evora for 2 days for Commanders Birthday  (last time we went was in the S1 Elise god knows how many years ago ) then on to Amiens (the Venice of the North apparently, never been so hopefully it is)  for 4 days to go and pay our respects at The Somme, this is a fully guided tour by Sparkles Watford Exotics Travel. 

May, off to Spa Classic with @Bibs again in the Evora with a very lovely 80's Aston Martin Vantage in tow and a 600 bhp RS6 Avant. 

June: Palma for 9 days with a BA deal total cost of flights £4 for two of us and some Avios points. ok the Hotel cost a couple of quid but still a cheap 9 days away.

USA, now we love the US we even got married there, if you can get to the Gulf Coast of Florida there is a place called Anna Maria Island, stunning place where got married at The Beach Bar. This was when is it was 2 dollars to the pound so 36 guests and i promise you our wedding cost less than most wedding dresses do today. 

We have done a lot of the US but stand out place for me was Austin Texas and Arizona is wonderful, I am never going back to Las Vegas I have been once out of choice and 3 times because of stags and weddings and will never go back the place is my idea of hell. 

[Chillidoggy]

55 minutes ago, Dan E said:

Currently booked, in March going to Honfleur in Evora for 2 days for Commanders Birthday  (last time we went was in the S1 Elise god knows how many years ago ) then on to Amiens (the Venice of the North apparently, never been so hopefully it is)  for 4 days to go and pay our respects at The Somme, this is a fully guided tour by Sparkles Watford Exotics Travel. 

May, off to Spa Classic with @Bibs again in the Evora with a very lovely 80's Aston Martin Vantage in tow and a 600 bhp RS6 Avant. 

June: Palma for 9 days with a BA deal total cost of flights £4 for two of us and some Avios points. ok the Hotel cost a couple of quid but still a cheap 9 days away.

USA, now we love the US we even got married there, if you can get to the Gulf Coast of Florida there is a place called Anna Maria Island, stunning place where got married at The Beach Bar. This was when is it was 2 dollars to the pound so 36 guests and i promise you our wedding cost less than most wedding dresses do today. 

We have done a lot of the US but stand out place for me was Austin Texas and Arizona is wonderful, I am never going back to Las Vegas I have been once out of choice and 3 times because of stags and weddings and will never go back the place is my idea of hell. 

I hope you won’t be leaving the MIL behind.

[Dan E]

5 minutes ago, Chillidoggy said:

I hope you won’t be leaving the MIL behind.

going over there today, she now spends all day just saying numbers, 20, 33, 20, 10, 20 ,10, 33 20, 10 , 20,10! she has not left the back room for over a year now and she does love saying 20, 10 mainly. Not to worry the carers only cost 5k a month so all good 

[eeyoreish]

Do you play the Lottery..? 🤔

[Sparky]

We'll be leaving the MIL behind many times this year, in the vain hope she'll make another uncontrolled flight into terrain from the top of the stairs.